Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Qader attends the launch of a book titled ‘Somayrekhay rashtranayak Sheikh Hasina’ at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Wednesday, marking 70th birthday of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. — New Age photo

The ruling Awami League and its front organisations on Wednesday celebrated the 69th birthday of party president Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, without any festivity because of the death of veteran litterateur Syed Shamsul Haq, died on Tuesday.
The party, however, distributed food among the destitute and held prayer sessions wishing good health of Hasina.
A prayer session was held at the prime minister’s official residence, Ganabhaban.
Prayers were also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others who were killed in the August 15, 1975 carnage as well as for the nation’s continued peace, progress and prosperity, according to United News of Bangladesh.
Sobhanbagh Jame Masjid imam Moulana Mohammad Liakat Hossain conducted the prayer session held after Asr prayers.
Ministers, lawmakers and scores of party leaders attended the prayer session.
Special diet was provided to orphanage centre of Anjuman Mufidul Islam at Gandaria and Chhotamoni Nibash at Azimpur in Dhaka on the occasion of the 69th birthday of Hasina.
The party on Tuesday postponed all the prescheduled celebration programmes, including discussion meeting at Institution of Engineers and jubilant procession by Bangladesh Chhatra League at the Dhaka University.